Huckabee Hits The Reset Button

Another "Super Tuesday" has come.  Another presidential candidate has thrown in the the towel.  Republican contender Mike Huckabee officially ended his campaign tonight and pledged to get behind nominee John McCain for the good of his party and for the good of the country.  He said that it had come time to, as when a computer freezes up, hit the reset button for his campaign.

In his concession speech, Huckabee firmly, yet gently reminded the nation that he had stayed in the race until the very end.  He also quoted the apostle Paul, who himself once wrote that he had "run the race...,finished the course..., and kept the faith."  He had also run an honorable campaign, on very limited personnel and resources and surprised many observers in the process.

I have made no secret that I personally supported Gov. Huckabee.  Actually, I met him and worked with him a few times when he was pastor in Texarkana, AR almost 20 years ago.  Even then, I recognized something special about him.  I once sent him a get well card in the mail and noted that I would like to write his biography some day.  (Note to Mike:  That offer still stands!)  He wrote back, not mentioning the offer, but did say that he appreciated my note and even reflected that some other pastors were actually praying for his recovery!  Mike has a wonderful sense of humor.  

Back then, Huckabee defied categories.  When he ran for president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention, the moderates considered him a fundamentalist, and many fundamentalists were concerned that he was closet moderate.  Nevertheless, he won the election and presided over the convention with the same graciousness and goodwill for which he is famous.

So I am a bit sad tonight.  I am also astounded that leading conservative Christians refused to endorse a man who shared their values, not that it would have made much of a difference.  I attended the announcement ceremony in Texarkana when pastor Mike announced that he wanted to become Senator Mike from Arkansas.  Then, as now, I am sure, he wanted to make a difference.  He was concerned for the values that a majority of Americans hold dear and wanted to make the biggest splash possible to try to recover them.

Then, as now, there were those who criticized him for "leaving the ministry" to enter politics.  After all, some opined, politics was too dirty and evil.   Huckabee countered that if this were so, evil had triumphed because good people did nothing.  He, for his part, would be one who would at least try.

So my hat is off to you, Gov. Huckabee, along with my deepest respect, admiration, and prayers.   Keep running the race, for the race is not always to the strongest or the swiftest.

Say, doesn't McCain need a vice presidential nominee?

Then again, who will run for the Republican nomination in 2012?

I close with one of my favorite poems written by Edgar Guest- one I have turned to countless times for inspiration and courage.  It was read at my ordination for the ministry.  Here are the ending lines, lines appropriate for this evening:

Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That 'cannot be done,' and you'll do it.